Citation

Rands, Tania (1997). The division of household labor in post-Soviet Russia.

Abstract

Draws on a newly available nationally representative data set (the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey) on individuals & households since 1992 to explore the division of household labor among married couples in post-Soviet Russia. Current theories in the US literature explaining differences in marital housework sharing & the Soviet literature on time usage & the "second shift," 1920s-1980s, are examined, & husbands' & wives' time usage is explored in terms of hours worked outside the home for pay, household tasks, child care, & leisure. It is found that even with time spent on paid & unpaid work combined, Russian husbands work less than 70% as many hours as Russian wives. Regression analysis is performed to test for predictors of husbands' participation in housework & child care. Limited support is found for resource theory, more consistent evidence for demand/response capability theory, & possible evidence for display theory. The data set lacks attitudinal variables, & therefore, sex-role ideology theory remains to be tested. Richer data are needed for more nuanced explorations of the division of household labor in Russia.

Reference Type

Conference Paper

Year Published

1997

Author(s)

Rands, Tania